Jesus Is For Everybody (J.I.F.E)

Introduction

Illustration: The tension of saying Season’s Greetings vs Merry Christmas as if Merry Christmas is not appropriate for non-Christian’s to hear

Transition To Body

Luke 2:10 ESV

10 And the angel said to them, “Fear not, for behold, I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people.

The testimony to Jesus’ birth from the angelic host to shepherds is significant in scope. Creation has no more mysterious and exalted beings than angels, who represent the testimony of the heavens to what is occurring. Moreover, there are no more “normal Joes” in ancient culture than shepherds. They represent the lowly and humble who respond to God’s message, for their vocation is seen positively in Scripture (Matt. 18:12; Mark 6:34; Luke 15:4; John 10; Eph. 4:11; Heb. 13:2; 1 Peter 2:25). Thus, heaven meets and greets the average person through the angelic announcement to these pastoral figures.

It doesn’t matter where Jesus is born but rather who is there

The biblical shepherd imagery is mostly positive, and the association of shepherds with these events adds an image of everyday living to the scene. God is involved not just with the special or the great, but with all people. His announcement of the child’s arrival to everyday folk shows his commitment to the mass of humanity. Those “on whom God’s favor rests” include those whose claim to fame may be nothing more than that they wake up each day and pursue a living in service to God.

THE BIRTH OF Jesus is a lesson in God’s faithfulness, but it also reveals God’s heart and character. For God identifies with the human race, and this birth reflects such identification. The most humble birth for the most exalted figure ever born shows that the key values of life are found in the life itself, not in the accouterments that come with life.

Body

God makes Jesus Christ known to shepherds (the humble) in glorious ways

Luke 2:11 ESV

11 For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord.

Jesus identifies with the humble

Jesus is savior

Jesus is LORD (master)

Jesus anointed

Angels praise Jesus Christ’s birth

Hebrews 13:1–2 ESV

1 Let brotherly love continue. 2 Do not neglect to show hospitality to strangers, for thereby some have entertained angels unawares.

Shepherds (the humble) go see what the LORD makes known

Shepherds come with curiosity

Luke 2:15–16 ESV

15 When the angels went away from them into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, “Let us go over to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has made known to us.” 16 And they went with haste and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby lying in a manger.

Simplicity and Anonymity of the Gospel

Look for the LORD in the little

Shepherds (the humble) go make Jesus Christ known

Shepherds bear witness of what they’ve Seen & heard

Shepherds move from curiosity to belief

(Belief leads to sharing)

Shepherds Saw- to experience, Perceive, or become aware of something with your senses

All who heard wondered

Wondered- to be extraordinarily impressed or disturbed by something

Mary, Jesus’ mother, pondered

Pondered- give careful thought to, consider

Shepherds returned glorifying & praising God for all they had heard & seen…

Transition To Close

Luke 2:20 ESV

20 And the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all they had heard and seen, as it had been told them.

Matthew 5:14–16 ESV

14 “You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden. 15 Nor do people light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a stand, and it gives light to all in the house. 16 In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven.

Close

John 16:33 ESV

33 I have said these things to you, that in me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world.”

The Father glorified the son, that the son may glorify the father

John 17:1–5 ESV

1 When Jesus had spoken these words, he lifted up his eyes to heaven, and said, “Father, the hour has come; glorify your Son that the Son may glorify you, 2 since you have given him authority over all flesh, to give eternal life to all whom you have given him. 3 And this is eternal life, that they know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom you have sent. 4 I glorified you on earth, having accomplished the work that you gave me to do. 5 And now, Father, glorify me in your own presence with the glory that I had with you before the world existed.

Jesus gave us His glory…

John 17:22 ESV

22 The glory that you have given me I have given to them, that they may be one even as we are one,

John 17:24–26 ESV

24 Father, I desire that they also, whom you have given me, may be with me where I am, to see my glory that you have given me because you loved me before the foundation of the world. 25 O righteous Father, even though the world does not know you, I know you, and these know that you have sent me. 26 I made known to them your name, and I will continue to make it known, that the love with which you have loved me may be in them, and I in them.”

No go with the authority of Jesus…

Matthew 28:16–20 ESV

16 Now the eleven disciples went to Galilee, to the mountain to which Jesus had directed them. 17 And when they saw him they worshiped him, but some doubted. 18 And Jesus came and said to them, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. 19 Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”